Scope Zero Check Thread

[sargent]

Tikka T3X Lite .223, SWFA 3-9, Talley rings
I shot the four AAC 77TMK rounds that were left in the clip after hunting season.
Not the best group ever, but still zeroed (2" dot)

The zero on this rifle hasn't been touched since early October of 2023. Since then the rifle has ridden thousands of miles in the truck, shot around 750 rounds, and killed an elk and five whitetails.

 

[morgaj1]

Tikka t3x .223
Swfa 3-15x
77 tmk : 25 gr lever'
Was having issues hitting at 350yds last time out. Zero check this session quickly confirmed a loss of zero.View attachment 812541
This rifle has been degreased and torqued but never paint penned. The front action screw was slightly loose. Also, when I went to slip my turrets I noticed the cap set screw were loose and had scratch marks where they didn't quite grab while adjusting (I have 2 different practice loads that I adjust off my 77 tmk zero)
Adjusted once... not quite there
View attachment 812545
Adjusted once more...
View attachment 812548
Perfect now.
Gonna do some stock work to this rifle now. When I reassemble everything will be paint penned, even the turret caps...

What rings?

 

[Moose83]

What rings?

Burris tikka direct mount rings

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Rifle: Tikka T3X Chambered in .260 Rem. Factory 22” Stainless Fluted Barrel. Stockys VG2. Shooting 143 ELDX hand loads.

Scope: Maven RS1.2 SHR MIL.

Scope Mounting: UM Tikka Low Rings and Bases (using the provided threaded pins).

Shooting Position: Seated at portable “bench”. Plastic table and folding chair. Heavy front bag, light weight low fill rear bag.


Time/Activity Since Last Zero Check: Gun was last zero checked in mid August when I made a small correction in the scope when I switched from factory 129 SSTs to 143 ELDX hand loads. It’s since been used on dozens of field shooting days, 2 round trip flights, and bounced around in my jeep and pickup back seats like all my guns.

Zero Check and Target Results: I fired and chrono’d two 3 round magazines back to back for a 6 shot group at 100 yards. Nothing surprising. This gun has always been an absolute hammer, it’s never been cleaned since 2021 and “should” be nearing the end of its barrel life

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Rifle: Tikka T3X Chambered in .223. Rokstok. Factory 20” 8 twist blued barrel chopped to 16” and threaded. Shooting factory Black Hills 77 TMK ammo.

Scope: SWFA Fixed 10x42

Scope Mounting: Sportsmatch T084s.

Shooting Position:




Time/Activity Since Last Zero Check: I can’t find photos of the last zero check. It’s been at least 6 months. This gun was recently fully cleaned other than the barrel, scope and gun wiped down, glass cleaned, throat and action rinsed with brake clean, bolt oiled. As per usual, many field days of use and vehicles ridden in. This gun is waiting on a dedicated 5.56 suppressor to arrive but figured I’d give it a quick zero check this morning.

Zero Check and Target Results: I fired and chrono’d a 4 round mag plus 1 group of 5 at 100 yards. Looked at my strelok app and saw that I had 2680 in for my calcs. Neat!

 

[eoperator]

Defiance/bart 6cm
Baby atacr nf rings

Do not save previous zero target but it had a near perfect zero. The rifle has 4k+ truck miles 5 kills and a significant impact from slipping on a snow covered rock (with a scope coat on) since it's last on paper zero check.

3 disappointing 5 groups had me thinking something had shifted. The rail is epoxied and pinned everything has been thread locked and torqued so i decided to clean the barrel first before changing zero on the scope.

While the barrel was soaking with foaming bore cleaner I noticed the brass had dents and abnormal powder residue on the shoulders. Willing to bet when I wiped out smacking the scope on a rock it dislodged some big chunks of carbon from suppressor that the first round pushed up into the neck/shoulder of the chamber forcing the brass off center a bit. The bolt face had chucks of carbon squished into it also.

After cleaning 1st round went a bit high right and the next 9 pounded the center out like these 108eh's usually do.